League: Kiwi aims to find his spark

Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Photo / Getty images

Frank-Paul Nuuausala has had a tough season. Not only have his Roosters side slipped from beaten grand finalists to the lower echelons of the NRL table but he missed selection in the Kiwis for last month's Anzac test.

The 24-year-old had a couple of storming years which resulted in him playing nine tests for New Zealand. He has now clocked up 77 games for the Roosters after debuting in 2007.

Nuuausala transformed his career after getting dropped from the Warriors as an 18-year-old and being told by coach Ivan Cleary his work ethic needed to improve. That was the jolt Auckland-bred Nuuausala needed but this year he has struggled, resulting in Kearney preferring other forward options on the Gold Coast.

Nuuausala, who refers to Kearney by his nickname "Mooks", says they have chatted openly about what the Kiwis coach requires.

"We get on good and it's nice to know I still feature in the back of his mind. I'll admit my form wasn't quite up to it. I'm just trying to bring the old Frank-Paul back - the one who runs aggressively and sparks the team more. I've still got to control myself; no stupid penalties."

Nuuausala may also be counting the cost of club versus country. Roosters coach Brian Smith sees him in the second row whereas Kearney prefers him at prop. Last season, he played 10 games at prop, six in the second row, six at lock and six off the interchange. This season, he's played eight in the second row, one at lock and one off the interchange.

"I spoke to Mooks [Kearney] last week and he knows I'm playing on the [left] edge. He said he'd rather see me in the middle but there is not much I can do about that . The Roosters need me to play in the back row and I don't mind - it's where I played most of my footy when I was young.

"Much of my season has been working on my combination with [halfback] Mitchell Pearce and Shaun Kenny-Dowall, it's about getting numbers together on defence and seeing what lines I should run rather than just hitting it up one off the ruck in the middle [as a prop].

Before last night, Cleary said Nuuausala's form has stagnated a bit lately: "The last couple of years he has been exceptional. He has really matured and played great football.

"This year his form might be a reflection of the performance of his entire team, it's hard when you go into games with a reputation. The Roosters have that after coming off a great season finish making the grand final against the Dragons."